 The majority of roofing manufacturers are using different asphalt/bitumen formulations to satisfy various climatic requirements. Today modified asphalt/bitumen membranes arethe fastest growing roofing materials in the industry.
The three basic grades of roofing asphalt are:
• Saturant-grade asphalt, usually oxidized asphalt (could be non oxidized as well, but only in cold climates, since it has poor heat resistance). This material is used to manufacture saturated felt plies utilized in the manufacture of built-up roofing (BUR) systems*, organic felt shingles, and other roofing products such as roll roofing.
• Coating-grade asphalt, an oxidized asphalt used to manufacture roofing materials for a variety of roofing systems such as asphalt shingles, polymer-modified bitumen roofing, reinforcing and underlayment felts, and roll roofing products.
• Mopping-grade asphalt, an oxidized asphalt that is melted and used in the construction of BUR and modified bitumen systems. Each grade of asphalt is also used to manufacture a variety of asphalt coatings and sealant products.
*Components of a BUR system include the roof deck, a vapor barrier, insulation, membrane and surfacing material. The components are assembled at the job site to actually form the built-up roof. At the heart of this roofing system is the roofing membrane, which consists of roofing bitumen and multiple reinforcing plies of roofing felt.
STRATCO’S INVOLVEMENT IN THE ROOFING INDUSTRY
STRATCO is specifically involved in providing blending equipment for the roofing industry, which can be integrated to any kind of system to replace existing blending equipment and reaction vessels.
The STRATCO® Modified Asphalt Contactor™ reactor (MAC) was designed to disperse high concentration of mineral fillers in high viscosity fluids, which could mean both neat asphalt/bitumen and polymer modified asphalt/bitumen.
Depending on the type of polymer modifier, the use of a colloid mill might be not necessary.
The MAC can be used in several ways in a roofing materials production:
I. asphalt modification and/or mineral filler dispersion for continuous of batch operation
II. booster heater for fillcoat stream for both batch or continuous operation
III. surge tank and booster heater for fillcoat stream for both batch and continuous operation
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 The STRATCO® Modified Asphalt Contactor™ (MAC) reactor provides improved and faster manufacturing process.
The MAC reduces energy costs because of its heat transfer effectiveness.
The unit’s superior design allows manufacturers to increase throughput maximizing production by controlling & maintaining the binder temperature.
The MAC provides better dispersion of higher concentration of mineral fillers than conventional equipment (even up to 80-85%). This is the key in reducing raw material costs.
Equipment performance also controls and minimizes air entrainment, which could be detrimental to finished product quality, including uniformity and aging (air at elevated temperatures increase aging of the asphalt, which results in a more brittle finished product.) |
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Modified Asphalt Contactor Reactor |
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 The STRATCO® Modified Asphalt Contactor™ (MAC) reactor is designed to blend fillers with asphalt cement to produce an economical asphalt roofing adhesive. It also functions as a booster heater to raise the temperature of this material.
The high dispersion mixing in the MAC is achieved using the hydraulic head assembly, in conjunction with the unique internal vessel configuration, forcing the entire contents through multiple blending cycles every minute.
Intense mixing capability enhances quality of products, through homogenous mixture and temperature.
The asphalt-polymer-filler (e.g. limestone) blend is pulled down through the inside of the circulation tube via the impeller.
Turbulence is established between the stationary shear vanes and the blades of the impeller, resulting in a zone of high shear and intense mixing.
As the material passes through the impeller, its velocity is greatly increased. At the discharge side of the impeller, the stream is impinged against the diffuser vanes. The direction of the flow is reversed at the bottom of the hydraulic head where the vanes force an axial turbulent flow as the dispersion/emulsion passes through the annular space formed by the circulation tube and vessel wall. The liquid then flows over the top of the circulation tube and back into the impeller.
Heat transfer oil is circulated in the external heating jacket. High heat transfer coefficients are achieved by the high fluid velocities across the heating surface.
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Last Updated ( Tuesday, 03 November 2009 21:55 )
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